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yellow fever
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Yellow fever is an insect-borne tropical disease caused by an arbovirus (Flavivirus genus) - this is a small RNA virus that is transmitted by the bite of mosquitoes (Aedes and Haemogogus species).
The disease is commonly underreported in the affected areas since the symptoms may be easily misinterpreted (2).
- up to 50% of severely affected persons without treatment will die from yellow fever
- the number of yellow fever cases has increased over the past two decades due to declining population immunity to infection, deforestation, urbanization, population movements and climate change (3)
Yellow fever can reappear with outbreaks after long intervals of apparent quiescence (1).
Reference:
- (1) Immunisation Against Infectious Disease - "The Green Book". Chapter 35. Yellow fever (July 2013)
- (2) European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Annual epidemiological report on communicable diseases in Europe 2010.
- (3) World Health Organization (WHO) 2013. Fact sheet. Yellow fever
Last reviewed 01/2018
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